STF puts the record straight
The Special Task Force (STF) unreservedly condemns the barbaric
incident where 10 innocent Muslim civilians were killed brutally with
sharp cutting instruments and their dead bodies recovered on 18
September 2006 in Rattal Kulam in Raddella in Pottuvil in Amparai
District. In this incident, an innocent elderly Muslim civilian, who
sustained cut injuries, is receiving medical treatment at the Amparai
District Hospital.
The STF is grately disheartened with the Press Statements by the LTTE
and a mischievous segment of the LTTE - inspired politically motivated
Muslim Group alleging the complicity of the STF in this brutal killing
of innocent civilians.
It is believed that these actions have been perpetrated by the LTTE
and its vested Muslim Group to discredit the Government of Sri Lanka and
to tarnish the image of the STF and the Sri Lankan Security Forces.
At this time of grief, our solidarity and support are with Sinhala,
Tamil and Muslim Populace in Amparai District including Pottuvil, and
wish to convey our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families
of the innocent Muslim victims of the heartless LTTE.
The STF takes this opportunity to place on record the under noted
facts to clear any misconceptions that could have been created to its
unblemished public image:
On 18 Sep. 2006 (Mon) around 0830 hrs, STF Troops, based at
Sastravelin in Pottuvil in Amparai District, on information of the
brutal killing of Muslim civilians in Rattal Kulam in Raddella in
Pottuvil rushed to the scene, which is located over 5 km away from the
STF Base at Sastraveli.
Rattal Kulam is an ancient tank located over 9 km away from Pottuvil
Town in Amparai Town with the closest STF Base to this location being
the STF Base at Sastraveli.
Under the aegis of the Divisional Secretariat in Pottuvil, a local
Muslim Contractor had deployed over 15 x Muslim civilians to
rehabilitate this dilapidated Rattal Kulam Tank/Reservoir, which is
located in a remote jungle terrain in Pottuvil bordering Lahugala South.
The initial rehabilitation work comprised repairing the damaged sluice
gates of this Reservoir. The water from this Tank is used to irrigate
cultivations mainly paddy fields cultivated by Muslim and Tamil
Populace.
Since the deployment of the STF in the East especially in Batticaloa
and Amparai Districts in Oct 1984 after its establishment in February
1983, the STF has earned a flawless reputation in restoring normalcy in
the East facilitating all Communities including the Tamil and Muslim
Populace to lead normal lives from the terrorising clutches of the LTTE.
In the process, STF Troops have sacrificed their lives in the East to
ensure continuing normalcy in Batticaloa and Amparai Districts.
The peacetime roles executed by the STF during the Ceasefire
Agreement establish the commitment of the STF in safeguarding the
interests of all the Communities in these Districts.
This was exhibited by the daring acts of the STF Troops, risking
their lives and property, to protect the precious lives of all civilians
in the coastal belt in Batticaloa and Amparai Districts when the fateful
'Tsunami' disaster struck the region on 26 Dec. 2004. The LTTE was
compelled to appreciate the post - Tsunami role of the STF in these
regions o synchronise with the popular public comments.
The STF has a consistent perfect record of having maintained
excellent relationship with the Muslim as well as the Sinhala and Tamil
Populace in Amparai District. Community Leaders and numerous INGOs and
NGOs have commended the STF for facilitating normalcy in Amparai
District from the scourge of the LTTE. The LTTE has been continuously
smarting over the growing popularity of the STF among the Muslim and
Tamil Populace from the post - Tsunami period in Batticaloa and Amparai
Districts.
The recent attacks by anti - LTTE Wanni Factions against the LTTE
pockets in the Kanchikudichchi Aru Jungles in Amparai District on 06
Sep. 2006 where the LTTE was totally annihilated in this jungle terrain
added o their misery and anguish against the STF.
The recent attacks by the LTTE in Pottuvil and the neighbouring
Lahugala areas in Amparai District proved the desperation of the LTTE in
creating a hostile environment in the region:
On 15 May 2006, LTTE cadres fired at a STF Water Bowser carrying
water to the STF Base and the Public in Komari in Pottuvil injuring a
STF Officer.
On 20 May 2006, LTTE cadres shot dead an innocent Sinhala civilian in
Kalugolla in Lahugala. On 25 May 2006, LTTE opened fire at the vehicle
of the President of the Lahugala Pradeshiya Sabha in Lahugala. He had a
miraculous escape.
On 08 aug. 2006, LTTE detonated a claymore mine to a STF Water Escort
in Panama in Pottuvil killing 02 x STF Officers.
Thus, the claim by the disgruntled Muslim Elements against the STF
that the LTTE is non-operational in Pottuvil is mischievous and
misleading.
An identified segment of the anti - GoSL Muslim Group in Pottuvil
with vested political and personal interests were known to haver
expressed their despondency when the STF Troops, based in Pottuvil in
Amparai District, on a directive from the Presidential Secretariat in
CBO in April 2006 carried out persistent checks on illicit felling of
trees in the reserved forests in Amparai jungles including Pottuvil to
enforce HE the President's national environment policy.
These STF exclusive operations led to the arrest of several noted
illicit Timber Merchants and their acquaintances of Muslim origin along
with the illicitly felled timbers. It is noted that, since 23 April 2006
until 16 Sep.
2006, the STF has arrested 104 civilians (08 x Sinhala 02 x Tamil and
94 x Muslim) along with 86 x bullock carts, 02 x 'Land-master' hand -
tractors, and a lorry with unprecedented quantities of illicitly felled
protected timber from Strict Natural Forest Reserves in Pottuvil region.
In Sep. 2006 until 17 Sep. 2006, 22 x Muslims with 23 x bullock carts
containing protected timber were detected by the STF in Pottuvil, and
handed over to the Wild Life Conservation Officer in Lahugala through
the Pottuvil Police.
Illicit timber trade in Amparai District especially in Pottuvil
region have been a lucrative trade for certain lavish Muslim Traders,
identified with anti - Government Political Elements, who were indulging
in covert acts with the complicity of the LTTE cadres.
The allegation against the STF is by a known Muslim Trader identified
with a vested Muslim Politico, who had an axe to grind with the STF
concerning the impartiality of the STF during the Presidential Election
Campaign in Pottuvil District in Oct/Nov 2006. In fact, Govt. and Muslim
Parliamentarians in Digamadulla District will bear testimony to these
facts and the unblemished credentials of the STF in the region.
As in the case of the closure of the 'Mavil Aru Sluice Gate' in
Trincomalee South by the LTTE on 20 July 2006, the LTTE and the infamous
illicit timber Muslim Merchants in Pottuvil Amparai District did not
want the sluice gate repaired as the local community in the area,
comprising mainly of Muslims and Tamils, would have been supplied with
water.
This is to facilitate the illicit Timber felling trade in the region,
as continued cultivation will lead for more access to civilians leading
to a flow of information to the STF on the nefarious activities of the
LTTE and the Muslim illicit timber Traders.
The STF is pleased that its suggestion to deploy a Special CID Team
to investigate into this brazen killings of 11 x innocent Muslims in
Pottuvil, has been promptly entertained. The STF has already complained
to the CID/Police against these identified Parties who are determined to
disengage the STF from Amparai District with the connivance of the LTTE.
Already, the only surviving Muslim civilian of this sordid ordeal,
Mr. Kareem Nilam Mohideen (aged 60 years/a native of Pottuvil) has made
a Statement to the Investigating Team that, it was none other than the
LTTE, who butchered the Muslim civilians, and has specifically mentioned
that the suspects are not the STF.
It is obvious that the LTTE is continuing to 'fish in troubled
waters' to tarnish the image of the GoSL by discrediting the STF to
inflate their deflated international image especially in the under noted
circumstances:
Co-Chairs Statement in Brussels on 12 Sep. 2006.
HE the President's Address to the 61st United Nations General
Assembly in New York in US scheduled on 20 Sep. 2006.
It is known that, within hours of the listing of the LTTE by the
European Union as a terrorist organisation on 29 May 2006, the LTTE
launched a mass-brutal execution of 12 x Sinhalese civilians at
Welikande engaged in a similar irrigation project on 29 May 2006, and
immediately blamed the SL Security Forces for these killings.
The STF is convinced that the hidden agenda and complicity of the
LTTE, who are deemed the real perpetrators of this barbaric killing of
innocent Muslim civilians, will be exposed in the ongoing
investigations, and brought to face natural justice in a Court of Law.
-Media Unit - Special Task Force Operational Headquarters, Colombo
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